The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ameen Al-Tahrani, confirmed that the national pharmaceutical policy represents a strategic pillar in the reform of the health system, emphasizing that it reflects the royal vision aimed at achieving health sovereignty and ensuring equitable and sustainable access to high-quality medicines. He stated that reviewing the drug pricing system has become necessary to balance citizens’ purchasing power while maintaining health coverage and encouraging access to innovative medicines, highlighting that a draft decree to revise the drug pricing framework is in its final stages and will soon be presented for approval.
During a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives on Monday, May 26, 2025, the minister announced that the new decree aims to regulate the prices of reimbursable medicines or those with proven efficacy, with clear mechanisms for price reduction and reducing the financial burden on families, with the goal of ensuring national drug security. He highlighted the experience of the “Marbio” vaccine production facility as a model of successful cooperation between the public and private sectors, enabling Morocco to have advanced infrastructure that ensures self-sufficiency and contributes to supplying the African continent with vaccines.
The minister revealed the adoption of a modern digital policy to simplify and expedite the marketing authorization processes, with an openness to mechanisms for mutual recognition of international scientific evaluations without compromising quality and safety standards. He mentioned that the ministry is working in coordination with the Moroccan Medicines and Health Products Agency to amend the drug authorization decree, focusing on digitizing procedures and reducing timelines to ensure transparency and swift reaction to health changes.
He announced the ministry’s engagement in a reform project to modernize the drug and pharmacy code, in consultation with various stakeholders, to align it with the developments of the health system and enhance pharmaceutical sovereignty requirements. He emphasized that these reforms come within the context of legislative and regulatory transformations led by the Moroccan Medicines Agency, activated following the appointment of its general director, the approval of its budget and its governing system, and ensuring the continuity of salary and compensation disbursements from the public budget.
The minister confirmed that the agency plays a crucial role in overseeing and regulating the pharmaceutical sector by leading reforms, managing marketing authorizations, and involving stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, thereby enhancing national industrial innovation and achieving aspirations related to health and pharmaceutical sovereignty.
